6471-chapter-16
“Yeah!”
I confidently nodded my head and puffed out my chest.
“My dad is a handsome dad!”
That devil promised me too!
I looked at the fake dad with momentum and then realized.
The fake dad was handsome.
Anyway, anyway!
“But you’re not my dad!”
Hmph! I put my arms around my chest and pouted.
That devil who only promised me that he was handsome is bad!
From the beginning, what I wanted was a rich, foolish dad with a beautiful daughter!
“My dad is rich! He has a diamond mine!”
“…I’m also rich. I not only have a diamond mine, but also a gold mine.”
Profit!
“My dad is a foolish dad who will die for me! My real dad loves me!”
“…..”
The fake dad had no answer.
See that!
He’s definitely someone else’s dad! He’s not my dad!
‘That’s right! The real dad…is separate….’
“Sob….”
No wonder my nose was stuffy.
My vision began to blur again.
At that moment, the fake dad picked me up and held me tight. As his warm hand brushed against my eyes, tears fell down like rain.
“So that’s why I’m not your father.”
My vision cleared up, and I saw my dad’s face. I could see his expression and his eyes, but I couldn’t tell what he was thinking.
Strangely, I couldn’t answer that question.
“Dad, Dad!”
Even as I spoke, a sense of sadness welled up, and a faint quiver stirred in my chest. “Hiccup, sniffle!”
“You’re scary, you’re always angry, and you got this face!”
I furrowed my brow and mimicked him.
“So, you cursed at me!”
“Cursed?”
“You called me a rat bastard!”
Dad remained silent.
That made me even angrier.
He did curse, didn’t he?
Bam!
Even though my fingers were short, I gave him a dignified poke.
“You’re a fake dad! Not my real dad! The real one is the best!”
* * *
“Your Excellency…?”
Heinz, the chief butler of the estate, called out to Duke Phaeraton, who was standing there somewhat absentmindedly, with a puzzled look on his face.
Standing absentmindedly was really not a suitable behavior for Duke Phaeraton.
“……”
But for some reason, Duke Phaeraton didn’t respond at all.
“Um, Your Excellency?”
Approaching him, Duke Phaeraton finally reacted with a start and turned to look at Heinz.
“What’s the matter, Your Excellency?”
Heinz asked with a somewhat worried tone.
‘Could it be that he’s having trouble getting along with the youngest miss?’
He felt a bit responsible.
After all, he had suggested that he go meet the youngest miss.
Unlike the aristocratic blood of the Phaeratons, the ordinary-born youngest miss was undoubtedly crying today because of something.
‘Comforting a crying child still seemed to be a difficult task for His Excellency.’
Since the return of the youngest miss, Duke Phaeraton had changed a lot.
So, he thought it would be okay.
“When I went, she wasn’t crying.”
“Huh? She wasn’t crying?”
“She cried.”
“….Yes?”
What on earth did that mean?
“She cried while talking to me. It seems like I made her cry.”
“……”
Heinz was at a loss for words.
‘Well, it’s not like it’s anyone else, it’s His Excellency…’
Duke Phaeraton made a perfectly healthy child cry. There were even children who cried their hearts out just because their eyes met, so it wasn’t that surprising.
‘But still, the youngest miss usually follows His Excellency so easily…’
It was really surprising when he thought about how she used to be held in the arms of the duke every day.
“Heinz.”
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
“Be honest with me.”
“In what safe haven would I tell a lie.”
Heinz straightened up and bowed seriously.
“Am I ugly?”
“….Yes?”
Heinz unintentionally opened his mouth wide and looked at Duke Phaeraton.
Although he always maintained a composed demeanor with a well-defined attitude, this time, he couldn’t help it.
‘No, no. I must have misheard.’
Would Duke Phaeraton really ask if he was ugly?
“Could you please repeat that?”
“…Never mind.”
Duke Phaeraton turned his head and walked away.
“Y-Your Excellency.”
The employees who had gathered at the end of the hall were startled and stepped aside when they saw him.
Duke Phaeraton raised an eyebrow.
Lately, it had become common for the employees to gather like this and murmur.
Originally, the employees of the Phaeraton estate didn’t make their presence known unless the master needed them.
Before, he had only thought that the atmosphere had changed, but he didn’t feel anything in particular.
But now it was bothering him somehow.
In Duke Phaeraton’s sharp gaze, a white piece of paper that had unexpectedly popped out of a maid’s hand caught his attention.
“What’s that?”
“Uh, it’s nothing important.”
Perhaps she hadn’t even thought that the duke would ask her a question, the maid couldn’t hide her surprise.
“Whether it’s important or not, I’ll decide.”
Swallowing dryly, the maid cautiously handed the paper to the duke.
Duke Phaeraton frowned and unfolded the folded paper.
And on the unfolded paper…
“What on earth is this? A pineapple?”
Was this a new code?
The maid, with a sheepish smile, began to explain without hiding the corners of her mouth twitching.
“It’s really nothing special, just a drawing that our young miss made of me.”
“…What?”
“She drew a picture of me holding her hand tightly. She said she liked me and drew it for me.”
That wasn’t an explanation; it was bragging.
“I got one too. She drew me hugging her tightly.”
“And for me, she drew me holding a flower. She said she liked the garden I take care of.”
“I got three!”
The employees began proudly pulling out their drawings from their pockets and showing them off.
It was the first time they had shown such enthusiasm in front of Duke Phaeraton.
And the duke’s mood was twisted.
Kugugung, like a dark cloud emitting a gloomy aura, Nancy, who saw him, said,
“Of course, they can’t compare to the drawings you received, Your Excellency.”
“Since the youngest miss follows Your Excellency so much, she probably gave you a lot of drawings, didn’t she?”
“I’m curious about what kind of drawing it is.”
The employees looked at Duke Phaeraton with anticipation in their eyes.
After a brief silence, the duke spoke.
“…Didn’t get one.”
“What?”
“I didn’t get one.”
A momentary drop in the temperature of the hall seemed to occur.
The employees stared at Duke Phaeraton, frozen in shock.
None of them could speak hastily.
* * *
“Well, let’s summarize then.”
Ahem, Nancy cleared her throat and started the briefing with determination.
“The butler thought that the young miss might be crying, so he suggested that His Excellency comfort her.”
Heinz, who was under scrutiny, nodded to confirm.
“However, the young miss didn’t cry at all. Instead, she burst into tears during the conversation with Your Excellency.”
Duke Phaeraton remained silent.
“Moreover, while everyone received a drawing from the young miss, His Excellency, who is her father, didn’t receive one.”
The people in the room shifted their gaze awkwardly.
“Well, it seems to be a simple summary. Your Excellency, it appears that the youngest miss might have some resentment towards…”
“Ahem!”
“Cough!”
Simultaneously, a sudden fit of coughing interrupted Nancy’s words.
It was a desperate struggle for survival.
“Um, what did the young miss say while she was crying? Children can cry for any reason, often very different from what adults think.”
Anna tried to provide an explanation, but…
“She said I’m not her real dad.”
“……”
“She said she hates me.”
The people looked at Duke Phaeraton, at a lost for words.
Wait, you went to comfort the child and heard her say you’re not her real dad? And she said she hates you?
‘How on earth…’
People exchanged silent glances, then turned to Duke Phaeraton again.
And they realized.
‘Ah, the butler made a mistake.’
Seeing Duke Phaeraton smoothly cross his long legs, chin tilted slightly, they understood.
No matter how much he carried the child around these days, Duke Phaeraton was still Duke Phaeraton.
A cruel and ruthless man to a degree that was almost inhuman.
To give him the mission of comforting a child.
‘It’s like telling a newborn baby to run.’
“It’s my fault.”
Everyone nodded in agreement at the butler’s quick admission.
“It seems that I overestimated Your Excellency, or rather, I was too hasty.”
“When comforting a child, scolding is not the way.”
Duke Phaeraton raised an eyebrow.
“I have never scolded her.”
Contrary to the butler’s words, he had only spoken when the child was crying.
As there was no specific topic to discuss, he briefly mentioned a book the child wanted.
“Well, Your Excellency, you might not have scolded, but from the child’s perspective, it could have felt that way.”
“The young miss is different from the young masters. Be more gentle, warmer!”
“Respect each other while smiling!”
“When you comfort her, did you hold her? Did you pat her?”
“…I didn’t hold her.”
Sighs of exasperation echoed simultaneously.
“Next time, please hold her tightly and pat her gently.”
The duke furrowed his brow.
“Why do I have to do such a thing?”
“Oh my god.”
The startled maids covered their mouths.
Duke Phaeraton seemed genuinely perplexed.
“What’s the meaning of that behavior?”
“But Your Excellency, didn’t you feel something when you held the young miss?”
The duke remained silent at those words.
When he carried his youngest daughter lightly.
When the child stretched out her arms and wrapped them around his neck.
When she nodded off while swinging her legs on his knees.
Then, eventually, when she fell asleep, her cheek would press against his chest.
The child was warm, and her soft, gentle breathing was as soothing as the first leaves of early spring.
Watching the silent duke, the people couldn’t help but smile.
To see this perfect man perplexed by something he was experiencing for the first time was astonishing.
But in the end, he would achieve pure happiness.
“Go back to the young miss, Your Excellency.”
“Since you made her cry, you should be the one to comfort her.”
Anna and Nancy were amazed at themselves for saying such things.
In the past, it would have been difficult even to approach him, let alone speak first.
The youngest miss had changed many things since her return to the estate, not long ago.
Duke Phaeraton stood up.
He was going to see his daughter.
“Oh, by the way.”
As he was about to leave the room, he turned back. His sharp crimson eyes scanned the people.
The employees, who had been softened by warmth, tensed up. They knew Duke Phaeraton’s moods better than anyone else.
After a while, the duke’s lips parted.
“Do you happen to know what ‘nom nom’ means?”1T/N: hngg i’m confused. In the last chapter, i translated ?? to milk thinking it fits with the context, but apparently, it also means ‘nom nom’ or ‘yum yum,’ or the food given to babies. I made a mistake, i’m sorry OTL
“……”
“And ‘cookie’”
A different kind of silence filled the room compared to before.
* * *
“I must be crazy!”
I slammed my head against the bed.
“I must have decided to die!”
Handing out a penalty like this!
That damn devil must be determined to kick me out of life!
I groaned while clutching my forehead.
“Ouch. I’m getting old, so old!”
Now what do I do?
I might not even be his own daughter, and I said I wasn’t his daughter with my own mouth…
‘I must be so awful.’
Ugh, I felt miserable.
Then, there was a knock on the door.
‘Could it be the duke again?’
Nervously, I looked at the door, and Anna walked in.
Thankfully, but…
“Young miss, would you like a snack?”
“I’m not eating.”
“Aren’t you hungry?”
“I don’t know. I’m not eating.”
I flopped back on the bed.
How can I eat when I look like this!
Anna knows I’m not at fault.
But, because of the disappearance of the reincarnation buff, I keep getting irritated.
“Ah, our young miss. Since you won’t eat what I prepare, there’s nothing I can do.”
Huh?
“I guess food prepared by Dad is better after all.”
What did you say?
A sad premonition washed over me.
Why is it that my sad premonitions are never wrong?
“Dad…”
Suddenly, Duke Phaeraton was standing in the doorway.
With an arrogantly impassive face and eyes as cold as icicles.
My body involuntarily shrank.
Facing me, he slowly moved his lips.
“Let’s have some ‘nom nom.'”
…What?
